Diego Pavia is a quarterback and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who completed his collegiate career at Vanderbilt University after previous stops at New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State. A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Pavia received no scholarship offers from Division I programs and enrolled at NMMI, where he won an NJCAA national championship in 2021 before transferring to New Mexico State. At NMSU he became a full-time starter and earned Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 after throwing for 2,973 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 923 yards and seven scores. He transferred to Vanderbilt in 2024 and immediately shocked college football by leading the Commodores to a 7-6 record and a signature win over top-ranked Alabama, completing 59.4 percent of his passes for 2,293 yards with 20 touchdowns while rushing for 800 yards and eight scores, earning SEC Newcomer of the Year honors. In 2025 he took Vanderbilt to its first 10-win season in program history and finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up, completing 70.6 percent of his passes for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 862 rushing yards and 10 scores and earning SEC Offensive Player of the Year recognition. Across six college seasons he compiled a 47-22 record with 12,899 passing yards and 4,210 rushing yards.
Standing at approximately 5-10 and 207 pounds with a 4.60-second 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Pavia is undersized for the quarterback position and was measured below his listed height at the Senior Bowl, raising legitimate visibility concerns against NFL defensive fronts. What he brings to offset those dimensions is rare competitiveness, a quick release, above-average arm strength for his size, and exceptional pocket mobility that allows him to create off-script plays with both his arm and legs. His experience under center in some of college football's most competitive environments, combined with strong footwork and a ball-carrier mentality that sees him run with contact balance and physicality, gives him a clear floor as a developmental dual-threat option in the NFL. He participated in the 2026 Senior Bowl and the Combine and has drawn comparisons to Taylor Heinicke for his scrappy, high-effort playing style. Pavia projects as a mid-to-late Day 3 selection with the upside of a backup quarterback who can contribute in mobile-friendly offensive systems and provide experienced depth at the professional level.
